Tools you keep on your flash drive

I know I've started collecting an assortment of tools/utilities that I keep on my external drive for troubleshooting or similar things.

For an awesome portable apps tool, check out: http://portableapps.com/
It has a ton of apps that you can add to it from the site. (thanks Geekz for the info)

Here's some programs/recommendations:
- Latest Version or drivers for your laptop
- Universal USB Installer
- Prime95
- ThrottleStop ( guide on NBR has download links)
- Windows 7 ISO('s) (direct downloads)
> Home Premium x86
> Home Premium x86 w/ SP1
> Home Premium x64
> Home Premium x64 w/ SP1
> Professional x86
> Professional x86 w/ SP1
> Professional x64
> Professional x64 w/ SP1
> Ultimate x86
> Ultimate x86 w/ SP1
> Ultimate x64
> Ultimate x64 w/ SP1
- MSE installer (direct downloads)
> Vista/7 x86
> Vista/7 x64
- Some benchmarks (CrystalDisk, AS SSD, etc)
> Crystal Disk Info Portable
> Crystal Disk Mark Portable
> AS SSD
- 7 Zip
- Bootable USB Drive Creator Tool (Direct Download)
- inSSIDer
- HW Monitor +
- GPU-Z

I'm always looking to increase the catalog. what types of tools/software/utilities do you guys like to keep handy?

 

A Linux live "CD" image and the latest version of my BIOS. I have everything I need to fully rebuild any of my machines (OS, drivers, software, browser bookmarks, etc.) lying around elsewhere, so I don't need much else on my troubleshooting USB stick.

I considered putting a WinPE image on there too, but I figure that if an issue is serious enough that I can't boot into Windows at all, it'd be faster to just recover my data and reformat than try to fix it.

 

Hizzaah, that is a comprehensive list, I did not notice a dedicated malware detection program, Microsoft Safety Scanner - Antivirus | Remove Spyware, Malware, Viruses Free
which can be run from the flash drive, and/or the install files for malwarebytes (which does not run from flash drive).
Driver Sweeper (for ATI cards this S/B included in the CCC download)

 

The one noticeable thing left off that list is CCleaner and malwarebytes

Another handy tool ProcessMonitor

 

I'll check out malwarebytes

ah, yes. CCleaner. used to have that one, not sure what happened to it. I'll have to re-download it. How reliable is the registry cleaner in it?

 

I've personally never had any problems with it. It's helped me out a couple times when I've needed to fully uninstall then reinstall itunes to fix some issues.

 

I really like SIW home edition, an information tools, who can check temperatures as well, and obviously all sorts of data from your computer, no need to install:

Buy SIW Pro or Download SIW Home Edition

 

the only thing i have on a usb stick is a working windows setup (and the repair options thanks to that, too), and network drivers for all kind of systems i or friends have. everything else: internet/network.

 

Providing links to the portable exe's would be nice too

 

Provided links for my list.. I'll work on adding other people's programs as well as maybe a brief description for each..

 

Awesome. Tagged to come back later

 

Just a tip, if you can edit the Windows 7 Ultimate ISO (registered/purchased version of MagicISO or PowerISO will do this, don't know of any freeware that will), you just need to delete or rename the file ei.cfg file in the "sources" folder and when you go to install it will ask you which version of Windows you want to install. Save you some space. Of course you will probably want one of x86 and x64 variety.

 

Personally, I keep 2. One is 32GB and it's bootable Win7 X64 installer, with folders on the root directory with drivers/apps/portable exe's.

Number 2 is a 16GB bootable USB 3.0 drive with live Ubuntu 10.10. Maverick Meerkat is the last Ubuntu version I consider worthwhile. Unity can burn in a fire.

 

Yep, I'm looking for a 32GB for the same, although I do have occasion for 32-bit as well. But I think I'll just muddle when I need that.

 

There's really no reason to keep one ISO for each edition.

Here you go. Or, just delete ei.cfg after you have copied it to the USB drive.
This tool is reported as not working with SP1, although ei.cfg got deleted from the ISO when I tried last week. Haven't tried installing tho..

If you combine HTWingNuts tip (about removing ei.cfg) with making one ISO with both 32- and 64-bit (= 4.1 GB),
and use WinSetupFromUSB instead, it's quite easy to put all versions of Windows 7 together with XP and Linux on one USB drive.

A different way of using a USB drive: install Windows on it. (use a fast drive! )

 

I don't have a copy of every iso lol.. I just put them there for the convenience of those visiting the thread

 

I use a lot of the apps from here
PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives

portable apps is pretty good when I'm caught needing to use a computer that's not mine, got my firefox and portable keefox in there as well.
It's also a bootable windows 7 ultimate x64 installer (my keys of course is in my email in case i lose my thumb drive lol).

 

Oh yeah, great suggestion Geekz. I use a lot of programs from there too.

 

Sorry I haven't updated, school and work have been keeping a bit busy.

wow, cool. thanks Geekz, I'll put this in the OP. +rep!

 

Here is my list, all free

Antivirus/malware scanner
Emsisoft Emergency Kit
Emsisoft Free Emergency Kit: portable malware scanner | Free removal of Viruses, Bots, Spyware, Keyloggers and Trojans

Search
Everything Search - Quick search for files on the C drive
Everything Search Engine
IndexYourFiles - Search C drive and external drives and flashdrives
Welcome to Index Your Files
UltraFileSearch Lite - Search for text
Ultra File Search - File Search Utility

Information
BluescreenView - View BSOD (blue screen) crash information stored in dump files
Blue screen of death (STOP error) information in dump files.
CrystalDiskInfo - Harddrive information
Crystal Dew World
DiskSmartView - Retrieves the S.M.A.R.T information from your IDE/SATA disk
Retrieves the S.M.A.R.T information from your IDE/SATA disk
DriverView - Loaded Windows Drivers List
DriverView: Loaded Windows Drivers List
HWMonitor - CPU & Harddrive temperatures plus battery info
CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting
ProcessExplorer - TaskManager and more (a bit complicated, too much info?)
Process Explorer
SIW - System Information for Windows
SIW (System Information for Windows) Portable | PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives
Speccy - System Information
Speccy - Builds
System Explorer - TaskManager and more. Easier to use than process Explorer
System Explorer News
TreeSize - Quickly Scan directory sizes and find space hogs
TreeSize Free - Last Changes
USBDeview - View all installed/connected USB devices on your system
View any installed/connected USB device on your system

Cleaning & Tools
CCleaner - Clean the harddisk
CCleaner - Builds
IObit Toolbox - A big collection of tools
|MG| IObit Toolbox 1.2 Download
IObit Uninstaller - Uninstall software and the junlk they might leave behind
|MG| Iobit Uninstaller 2.2 Download
Recuva - Recover deleted files
Recuva - Builds
RegScanner - find/search in the Registry of Windows (Be careful !!!!!)
RegScanner: Alternative to RegEdit find/search/scan of Windows
Revo Uninstaller - Uninstall software and the junlk they might leave behind
Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems
Unlocker Portable - Unlock files
Unlocker Portable Download - Softpedia
WhatInStartup - Startup viewer and manager
WhatInStartup - Disable/delete programs at Windows startup

Might be handy
7Zip - Unpack Zip & RAR (and more) file archives
7-Zip Portable | PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives
AbiWord Portable - Read word docs
AbiWord Portable | PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives
FastStone Capture - Take a screenshot
The Portable Freeware Collection - FastStone Capture
Marxio Checksum - File Checksum Verifier
http://www.marxio-tools.net/en/index1.php
Skype Portable - Call a friend and ask for help
Skype Portable | PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives
Spread32 - Read Microsoft Excel
A+ Freeware - Business and Finance - Spreadsheets
STDU Viewer - Read PDF and more
TIFF, PDF, DjVu, Comic Book Archive (CBR or CBZ), XPS viewer
XNView Minimal - View photos
XnView Software - Free graphic and photo viewer, converter, organizer

All the best, woz of oz

 

My boss is going to be stopping by with his old netbook that he says has a virus that has made it nonfunctioning.

I'm not sure what version of windows he has, and I'm only assuming I'll be able to boot into it, at least from USB.

I have on a usb currently:
Slacko Puppy
CCleaner
AVG Rescue CD

what else should I throw on there?

 

Anybody know of a download of the latest "Windows Vista Home Premium SP2" the x86 and x64 would be great.

Thanks

John.